The Life of Saint Benedict of Nursia

THE DIALOGUES OF SAINT GREGORY, SURNAMED DIALOGUS AND THE GREAT, POPE OF ROME AND THE FIRST
OF THAT NAME.

Divided into Four Books, wherein he entreateth of the Lives and Miracles of the Saints in
Italy, and of the Eternity of Men’s Souls.

Translated into our English Tongue by “P. W.” and printed at Paris in 1608.
Re-edited by Edmund G. Gardner in 1911, and again by the Saint Pachomius Library in 1995.

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THE SECOND BOOK OF THE DIALOGUES, containing the Life and Miracles of St. Benedict (Benedict)
of Nursia.

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PROLOGUE (spoken by GREGORY):

There was a man of venerable life, blessed by grace, and blessed in name, for he was called
“Benedictus”or Benedict: who, from his younger years, carried always the mind of an
old man; for his age was inferior to his virtue: all vain pleasure he contemned, and though he
were in the world, and might freely have enjoyed such commodities as it yieldeth, yet did he
nothing esteem it, nor the vanities thereof. He was born in the province of Nursia, of honourable
parentage, and brought up at Rome in the study of humanity. But for as much as he saw many by
reason of such learning to fall to dissolute and lewd life, he drew back his foot, which he had
as it were now set forth into the world, lest, entering too far in acquaintance therewith, he
likewise might have fallen into that dangerous and godless gulf: wherefore, giving over his book,
and forsaking his father’s house and wealth, with a resolute mind only to serve God, he
sought for some place, where he might attain to the desire of his holy purpose: and in this sort
he departed, instructed with learned ignorance, and furnished with unlearned wisdom. All the
notable things and acts of his life I could not learn; but those few, which I mind now to report,
I had by the relation of four of his disciples: to wit, of Constantinus, a most rare and reverent
man, who was next Abbot after him; of Valentinianus, who many years had the charge of the Lateran
Abbey; of Simplicius, who was the third General of his order; and lastly of Honoratus, who is now
Abbot of that monastery in which he first began his holy life.

CHAPTER ONE: HOW HE MADE A BROKEN SIEVE WHOLE AND SOUND

Benedict having now given over the school, with a resolute mind to lead his life in the
wilderness: his nurse alone, which did tenderly love him, would not by any means give him over.
Coming, therefore, to a place called Enside and remaining there in the church of St. Peter, in
the company of other virtuous men, which for charity lived in that place, it fell so out that his
nurse borrowed of the neighbours a sieve to make clean wheat, which being left negligently upon
the table, by chance it was broken in two pieces: whereupon she fell pitifully a-weeping, because
she had borrowed it. The devout and religious youth Benedict, seeing his nurse so lamenting,
moved with compassion, took away with him both the pieces of the sieve, and with tears fell to
his prayers; and after he had done, rising up he found it so whole, that the place could not be
seen where before it was broken; and coming straight to his nurse, and comforting her with good
words, he delivered her the sieve safe and sound: which miracle was known to all the inhabitants
thereabout, and so much admired, that the townsmen, for a perpetual memory, did hang it up at the
church door, to the end that not only men then living, but also their posterity might understand,
how greatly God’s grace did work with him upon his first renouncing of the world. The sieve
continued there many years after, even to these very troubles of the Lombards, where it did hang
over the church door.

But Benedict, desiring rather the miseries of the world than the praises of men: rather to be
wearied with labour for God’s sake, than to be exalted with transitory commendation: fled
privily from his nurse, and went into a desert place called Sublacum, distant almost forty miles
from Rome: in which there was a fountain springing forth cool and clear water; the abundance
whereof doth first in a broad place make a lake, and afterward running forward, cometh to be a
river. As he was travelling to this place, a certain monk called Romanus met him, and demanded
whither he went, and understanding his purpose, he both kept it close, furthered him what he
might, vested him with the habit of holy conversation, and as he could, did minister and serve
him.

The man of God, Benedict, coming to this foresaid place, lived there in a strait cave, where
he continued three years unknown to all men, except to Romanus, who lived not far off, under the
rule of Abbot Theodacus, and very virtuously did steal certain hours, and likewise sometime a
loaf given for his own provision, which he did carry to Benedict. And because from Romanus’
cell to that cave there was not any way, by reason of an high rock which did hang over it,
Romanus, from the top thereof, upon a long rope, did let down the loaf, upon which also with a
band he tied a little bell, that by the ringing thereof the man of God might know when he came
with his bread, and so be ready to take it. But the old enemy of mankind, envying at the charity
of the one and the refection of the other, seeing a loaf upon a certain day let down, threw a
stone and brake the bell; but yet, for all that, Romanus gave not over to serve him by all the
possible means he could.

At length when almighty God was determined to ease Romanus of his pains, and to have
Benedict’s life for an example known to the world, that such a candle, set upon a
candlestick, might shine and give light to the Church of God, our Lord vouchsafed to appear unto
a certain Priest dwelling a good way off, who had made ready his dinner for Easter day, and spake
thus unto him: “Thou hast provided good cheer for thyself, and my servant in such a place
is afflicted with hunger”: who, hearing this forthwith rose up, and upon Easter day itself,
with such meat as he had prepared, went to the place, where he sought for the man of God amongst
the steep hills, the low valleys and hollow pits, and at length found him in his cave: where,
after they had prayed together, and sitting down had given God thanks, and had much spiritual
talk, then the Priest said unto him: “Rise up, brother, and let us dine, because today is
the feast of Easter.”To whom the man of God answered, and said: “I know that it is
Easter with me and a great feast, having found so much favour at God’s hands as this day to
enjoy your company”(for by reason of his long absence from men, he knew not that it was the
great solemnity of Easter). But the reverent Priest again did assure him, saying: “Verily,
to-day is the feast of our Lord’s Resurrection, and therefore meet it is not that you
should keep abstinence, and besides I am sent to that end, that we might eat together of such
provision as God’s goodness hath sent us.”Whereupon they said grace, and fell to
their meat, and after they had dined, and bestowed some time in talking, the Priest returned to
his church.

About the same time likewise, certain shepherds found him in that same cave: and at the first,
when they espied him through the bushes, and saw his apparel made of skins, they verily thought
that it had been some beast: but after they were acquainted with the servant of God, many of them
were by his means converted from their beastly life to grace, piety, and devotion. And thus his
name in the country there about became famous, and many after this went to visit him, and for
corporal meat which they brought him, they carried away spiritual food for their souls.

CHAPTER TWO: HOW HE OVERCAME A GREAT TEMPTATION OF THE FLESH.

Upon a certain day being alone, the tempter was at hand: for a little black bird, commonly
called a merle or an ousel, began to fly about his face, and that so near as the holy man, if he
would, might have taken it with his hand: but after he had blessed himself with the sign of the
cross, the bird flew away: and forthwith the holy man was assaulted with such a terrible
temptation of the flesh, as he never felt the like in all his life.

A certain woman there was which some time he had seen, the memory of which the wicked spirit
put into his mind, and by the representation of her did so mightily inflame with concupiscence
the soul of God’s servant, which did so increase that, almost overcome with pleasure, he
was of mind to have forsaken the wilderness. But, suddenly assisted with God’s grace, he
came to himself; and seeing many thick briers and nettle bushes to grow hard by, off he cast his
apparel, and threw himself into the midst of them, and there wallowed so long that, when he rose
up, all his flesh was pitifully torn: and so by the wounds of his body, he cured the wounds of
his soul, in that he turned pleasure into pain, and by the outward burning of extreme smart,
quenched that fire which, being nourished before with the fuel of carnal cogitations, did
inwardly burn in his soul: and by this means he overcame the sin, because he made a change of the
fire.

From which time forward, as himself did afterward report unto his disciples, he found all
temptation of pleasure so subdued, that he never felt any such thing. Many after this began to
abandon the world, and to become his scholars. For being now freed from the vice of temptation,
worthily and with great reason is he made a master of virtue: for which cause, in Exodus,
commandment is given by Moses that the Levites from five-and-twenty years and upward should
serve, but, after they came to fifty, that they should be ordained keepers of the holy vessels.
[Numbers 8:24-26]

PETER: Somewhat I understand of this testimony alleged: but yet I beseech you to tell me the
meaning thereof more fully.

GREGORY: It is plain, Peter, that in youth the temptation of the flesh is hot: but after fifty
years the heat of the body waxeth cold, and the souls of faithful people become holy vessels.
Wherefore necessary it is that God’s elect servants, whiles they are yet in the heat of
temptation, should live in obedience, serve, and be wearied with labour and pains. But when, by
reason of age, the heat of temptation is past, they become keepers of holy vessels; because they
then are made the doctors of men’s souls.

PETER: I cannot deny, but that your words have given me full satisfaction: wherefore, seeing
you have now expounded the meaning of the former text alleged, prosecute, I pray, as you have
begun, the rest of the holy man’s life.

CHAPTER THREE: HOW BENEDICT, BY THE SIGN OF THE HOLY CROSS, BRAKE A DRINKING-GLASS IN
PIECES.

GREGORY: When this great temptation was thus overcome, the man of God, like unto a piece of
ground well tilled and weeded, of the seed of virtue brought forth plentiful store of fruit: and
by reason of the great report of his wonderful holy life, his name became very famous. Not far
from the place where he remained there was a monastery, the Abbot whereof was dead: whereupon the
whole Convent came unto the venerable man Benedict, entreating him very earnestly that he would
vouchsafe to take upon him the charge and government of their Abbey: long time he denied them,
saying that their manners were divers from his, and therefore that they should never agree
together: yet at length, overcome with their entreaty, he gave his consent.

Having now taken upon him the charge of the Abbey, he took order that regular life should be
observed, so that none of them could, as before they used, through unlawful acts decline from the
path of holy conversation, either on the one side or on the other: which the monks perceiving,
they fell into a great rage, accusing themselves that ever they desired him to be their Abbot,
seeing their crooked conditions could not endure his virtuous kind of government: and therefore
when they saw that under him they could not live in unlawful sort, and were loath to leave their
former conversation, and found it hard to be enforced with old minds to meditate and think upon
new things: and because the life of virtuous men is always grievous to those that be of wicked
conditions, some of them began to devise, how they might rid him out of the way: and therefore,
taking counsel together, they agreed to poison his wine: which being done, and the glass wherein
that wine was, according to the custom, offered to the Abbot to bless, he, putting forth his
hand, made the sign of the cross, and straightway the glass, that was holden far off, brake in
pieces, as though the sign of the cross had been a stone thrown against it: upon which accident
the man of God by and by perceived that the glass had in it the drink of death, which could not
endure the sign of life: and therefore rising up, with a mild countenance and quiet mind, he
called the monks together, and spake thus unto them: “Almighty God have mercy upon you, and
forgive you: why have you used me in this manner? Did not I tell you before hand, that our manner
of living could never agree together? Go your ways, and seek ye out some other father suitable to
your own conditions, for I intend not now to stay any longer amongst you.”When he had thus
discharged himself, he returned back to the wilderness which so much he loved, and dwelt alone
with himself, in the sight of his Creator, who beholdeth the hearts of all men.

PETER: I understand not very well what you mean, when you say that he dwelt with himself.

GREGORY: If the holy man had longer, contrary to his own mind, continued his government over
those monks, who had all conspired against him, and were far unlike to him in life and
conversation: perhaps he should have diminished his own devotion, and somewhat withdrawn the eyes
of his soul from the light of contemplation; and being wearied daily with correcting of their
faults, he should have had the less care of himself, and so haply it might have fallen out, that
he should both have lost himself, and yet not found them: for so often as by infectious motion we
are carried too far from ourselves, we remain the same men that we were before, and yet be not
with ourselves as we were before: because we are wandering about other men’s affairs,
little considering and looking into the state of our own soul.

For shall we say that he was with himself, who went into a far country, and after he had, as
we read in the Gospel, prodigally spent that portion which he received of his father, was glad to
serve a citizen, to keep his hogs, and would willingly have filled his hungry belly with the
husks which they did eat: who notwithstanding afterward, when he thought with himself of those
goods which he had lost, it is written of him that, returning into himself, he said: How many
hired men in my father’s house do abound with bread? [Luke 15]

If then, before he were with himself, from whence did he return home unto himself? and
therefore I said that this venerable man did dwell with himself, because carrying himself
circumspectly and carefully in the sight of his Creator, always considering his own actions,
always examining himself, never did he turn the eyes of his soul from himself, to behold aught
else whatsoever.

PETER: Why, then, is it written of the Apostle, St. Peter, after he was by the Angel delivered
out of prison, that, returning to himself, he said: Now I know verily, that our Lord hath sent
his Angel, and hath delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the
people of the Jews. [Acts 12:11]

GREGORY: We are two manner of ways, Peter, carried out of ourselves: for either we fall under
ourselves by sinful cogitation, or else we are, by the grace of contemplation, lifted above
ourselves: for he that kept hogs, through wandering of his mind and unclean thoughts, fell under
himself: but he whom the Angel delivered out of prison, being also rapt by the Angel into an
ecstasy, was in truth out of himself, but yet above himself. Both of them, therefore, did return
unto themselves; the one when he recollected himself, and forsook his lewd kind of life; and the
other from the top of contemplation, to have that usual judgment and understanding, which before
he had: wherefore venerable Benedict in that solitary wilderness dwelt with himself, because he
kept himself, and retired his cogitations within the closet of his own soul: for when the
greatness of contemplation rapt him up aloft, out of all question he did then leave himself under
himself.

PETER: Your discourse doth very well content me: yet I beseech you to answer me this question,
whether he could in conscience give over those monks, whose government he had now taken upon
him?

GREGORY: In mine opinion, Peter, evil men may with good conscience be tolerated in that
community, where there be some good that may be holpen, and reap commodity. But where there be
none good at all, that receive spiritual profit, often times all labour is lost, that is bestowed
in bringing of such to good order, especially if other occasions be offered of doing God
presently better service elsewhere: for whose good, then, should the holy man have expected,
seeing them all to persecute him with one consent? and (that which is not to be passed over with
silence) those that be perfect carry always this mind, that when they perceive their labour to be
fruitless in one place, to remove straight to another, where more good may be done.

And for this cause, that notable preacher of the word, who was desirous to be dissolved, and
to be with Christ, unto whom to live is Christ, and to die is gain [Phil. 1:21]: and who not only
desired himself to suffer persecution, but did also animate and encourage others to suffer the
same; yet being himself in persecution at Damascus, got a rope and a basket to pass over the
wall, and was privily let down. [Acts 9:25] What then? shall we say that Paul was afraid of
death, when as himself said, that he desired it for Christ’s sake? not so: but when he
perceived that in that place little good was to be done by great labour, he reserved himself to
further labour, where more fruit and better success might be expected: and therefore the valiant
soldier of Christ would not be kept within walls, but sought for a larger field where he might
more freely labour for his master. And so, in like manner, you shall quickly perceive, if you
mark well, that venerable Benedict forsook not so many in one place, that were unwilling to be
taught, as he did in sundry other places raise up from the death of soul many more, that were
willing to be instructed.

PETER: It is so as you say, and plain reason teacheth it, and the example of St. Paul alleged
doth confirm it. But I beseech you to return unto your former purpose, and to prosecute the life
of the holy man.

GREGORY: When as God’s servant daily increased in virtue, and became continually more
famous for miracles, many were by him in the same place drawn to the service of almighty God, so
that by Christ’s assistance he built there twelve Abbeys; over which he appointed
governors, and in each of them placed twelve monks, and a few he kept with himself, namely, such
as he thought would more profit, and be better instructed by his own presence. At that time also
many noble and religious men of Rome came unto him, and committed their children to be brought up
under him, for the service of God. Then also Evitius delivered him Maurus, and Tertullius the
Senator brought Placidus, being their sons of great hope and towardness: of which two, Maurus,
growing to great virtue, began to be his master’s coadjutor; but Placidus, as yet, was but
a boy of tender years.

CHAPTER FOUR: HOW BENEDICT REFORMED A MONK THAT WOULD NOT STAY AT HIS PRAYERS.

In one of the monasteries which he had built in those parts, a monk there was, which could not
continue at prayers; for when the other monks knelt down to serve God, his manner was to go
forth, and there with wandering mind to busy himself about some earthly and transitory things.
And when he had been often by his Abbot admonished of this fault without any amendment, at length
he was sent to the man of God, who did likewise very much rebuke him for his folly; yet
notwithstanding, returning back again, he did scarce two days follow the holy man’s
admonition; for, upon the third day, he fell again to his old custom, and would not abide within
at the time of prayer: word whereof being once more sent to the man of God, by the father of the
Abbey whom he had there appointed, he returned him answer that he would come himself, and reform
what was amiss, which he did accordingly: and it fell so out, that when the singing of psalms was
ended, and the hour come in which the monks betook themselves to prayer, the holy man perceived
that the monk, which used at that time to go forth, was by a little black boy drawn out by the
skirt of his garment; upon which sight, he spake secretly to Pompeianus, father of the Abbey, and
also to Maurus saying Do you not see who it is, that draweth this monk from his
prayers?”and they answered him, that they did not. “Then let us pray,”quoth he,
“unto God, that you also may behold whom this monk doth follow”: and after two days
Maurus did see him, but Pompeianus could not.

Upon another day, when the man of God had ended his devotions, he went out of the oratory,
where he found the foresaid monk standing idle, whom for the blindness of his heart he strake
with a little wand, and from that day forward he was so freed from all allurement of the little
black boy, that he remained quietly at his prayers, as other of the monks did: for the old enemy
was so terrified, that he durst not any more suggest any such cogitations: as though by that
blow, not the monk, but himself had been strooken.

CHAPTER FIVE: OF A FOUNTAIN THAT SPRUNG FORTH IN THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, BY THE PRAYERS OF
THE MAN OF GOD.

Amongst the monasteries which he had built in those parts, three of them were situated upon
the rocks of a mountain, so that very painful it was for the monks to go down and fetch water,
especially because the side of the hill was so steep that there was great fear of danger: and
therefore the monks of those Abbeys with one consent came unto the servant of God, Benedict,
giving him to understand, how laborious it was for them daily to go down unto the lake for water:
and therefore they added, that it was very necessary to have them removed to some other places.
The man of God, comforting them with sweet words, caused them to return back again; and the next
night, having with him only the little boy Placidus (of whom we spake before), he ascended up to
the rock of that mountain, and continued there a long time in prayer; and when he had done, he
took three stones, and laid them in the same place for a mark, and so, none of them being privy
to that he had done, he returned back to his own Abbey. And the next day, when the foresaid monks
came again about their former business, he said thus unto them: “Go your way to the rock,
and in the place where you find three stones laid one upon another, dig a little hole, for
almighty God is able to bring forth water in the top of that mountain, and so to ease you of that
great labour which you take in fetching it so far.”Away they went, and came to the rock of
the mountain according to his direction, which they found as it were sweating drops of water, and
after they had with a spade made an hollow place, it was straightways filled, and water flowed
out so abundantly, that it doth plentifully, even to this day, spring out and run down from the
top to the very bottom of that hill.

CHAPTER SIX: HOW THE IRON HEAD OF A BILL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER, RETURNED TO THE
HANDLE AGAIN.

At another time, a certain Goth, poor of spirit, that gave over the world, was received by the
man of God; whom on a day he commanded to take a bill, and to cleanse a certain plot of ground
from briers, for the making of a garden, which ground was by the side of a lake. The Goth as he
was there labouring, by chance the head of the bill slipped off, and fell into the water, which
was so deep, that there was no hope ever to get it again. The poor Goth, in great fear, ran unto
Maurus and told him what he had lost, confessing his own fault and negligence: Maurus forthwith
went to the servant of God, giving him to understand thereof, who came straightways to the lake:
and took the handle out of the Goth’s hand, and put it into the water, and the iron head by
and by ascended from the bottom and entered again into the handle of the bill, which he delivered
to the Goth, saying: “Behold here is thy bill again, work on, and be sad no
more.”

CHAPTER SEVEN: HOW MAURUS WALKED UPON THE WATER.

On a certain day, as venerable Benedict was, in his cell, the foresaid young Placidus, the
holy man’s monk, went out to take up water at the lake, and putting down his pail
carelessly, fell in himself after it, whom the water forthwith carried away from the land so far
as one may shoot an arrow. The man of God, being in his cell, by and by knew this, and called in
haste for Maurus, saying: “Brother Maurus, run as fast as you can, for Placidus, that went
to the lake to fetch water, is fallen in, and is carried a good way off.”

A strange thing, and since the time of Peter the Apostle never heard of! Maurus, craving his
father’s blessing, and departing in all haste at his commandment, ran to that place upon
the water, to which the young lad was carried by force thereof, thinking that he had all that
while gone upon the land: and taking fast hold of him by the hair of his head, in all haste he
returned back again: and so soon as he was at land, coming to himself he looked behind him, and
then knew very well that he had before run upon the water: and that which before he durst not
have presumed, being now done and past, he both marvelled, and was afraid at that which he had
done.

Coming back to the father, and telling him what had happened, the venerable man did not
attribute this to his own merits, but to the obedience of Maurus: but Maurus on the contrary,
said that it was done only upon his commandment, and that he had nothing to do in that miracle,
not knowing at that time what he did. But the friendly contention proceeding of mutual humility,
the young youth himself that was saved from drowning did determine: for he said that he saw when
he was drawn out of the water the Abbot’s garment upon his head, affirming that it was he
that had delivered him from that great danger.

PETER: Certainly they be wonderful things which you report, and such as may serve for the
edification of many : for mine own part, the more that I hear of his miracles, the more do I
still desire.

CHAPTER EIGHT: HOW A LOAF WAS POISONED, AND CARRIED FAR OFF BY A CROW.

GREGORY: When as the foresaid monasteries were zealous in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and their fame dispersed far and near, and many gave over the secular life, and subdued the
passions of their soul, under the light yoke of our Saviour: then (as the manner of wicked people
is, to envy at that virtue which themselves desire not to follow) one Florentius, Priest of a
church hardby, and grandfather to Florentius our sub-deacon, possessed with diabolical malice,
began to envy the holy man’s virtues, to back-bite his manner of living, and to withdraw as
many as he could from going to visit him : and when he saw that he could not hinder his virtuous
proceedings, but that, on the contrary, the fame of his holy life increased, and many daily, upon
the very report of his sanctity, did betake themselves to a better state of life : burning more
and more with the coals of envy, he became far worse; and though he desired not to imitate his
commendable life, yet fain he would have had the reputation of his virtuous conversation.

In conclusion so much did malicious envy blind him, and so far did he wade in that sin, that
he poisoned a loaf and sent it to the servant of almighty God, as it were for an holy present.
The man of God received it with great thanks, yet not ignorant of that which was hidden within.
At dinner time, a crow daily used to come unto him from the next wood, which took bread at his
hands; coming that day after his manner, the man of God threw him the loaf which the Priest had
sent him, giving him this charge: “In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, take up that loaf,
and leave it in some such place where no man may find it.”Then the crow, opening his mouth,
and lifting up his wings, began to hop up and down about the loaf, and after his manner to cry
out, as though he would have said that he was willing to obey, and yet could not do what he was
commanded. The man of God again and again bade him, saying: “Take it up without fear, and
throw it where no man may find it.”At length, with much ado, the crow took it up, and flew
away, and after three hours, having dispatched the loaf, he returned back again, and received his
usual allowance from the man of God.

But the venerable father, perceiving the Priest so wickedly bent against his life, was far
more sorry for him than grieved for himself. And Florentius, seeing that he could not kill the
body of the master, laboureth now what he can, to destroy the souls of his disciples; and for
that purpose he sent into the yard of the Abbey before their eyes seven naked young women, which
did there take hands together, play and dance a long time before them, to the end that, by this
means, they might inflame their minds to sinful lust: which damnable sight the holy man beholding
out of his cell, and fearing the danger which thereby might ensue to his younger monks, and
considering that all this was done only for the persecuting of himself, he gave place to envy;
and therefore, after he had for those abbeys and oratories which he had there built appointed
governors, and left some under their charge, himself, in the company of a few monks, removed to
another place.

And thus the man of God, upon humility, gave place to the other’s malice; but yet
almighty God of justice did severely punish [Florentius’] wickedness. For when the foresaid
Priest, being in his chamber, understood of the departure of holy Benedict, and was very glad of
that news, behold (the whole house besides continuing safe and sound) that chamber alone in which
he was, fell down, and so killed him: which strange accident the holy man’s disciple Maurus
understanding, straightways sent him word, he being as yet scarce ten miles off, desiring him to
return again, because the Priest that did persecute him was slain; which thing when Benedict
heard, he was passing sorrowful, and lamented much: both because his enemy died in such sort, and
also for that one of his monks rejoiced thereat; and therefore he gave him penance, for that,
sending such news, he presumed to rejoice at his enemy’s death.

PETER: The things you report be strange, and much to be wondered at: for in making the rock to
yield forth water, I see Moses; and in the iron, which came from the bottom of the lake, I behold
Eliseus; in the walking of Maurus upon the water, I perceive Peter; in the obedience of the crow,
I contemplate Elias; and in lamenting the death of his enemy, I acknowledge David: and therefore,
in mine opinion, this one man was full of the spirit of all good men.

GREGORY: The man of god, Benedict, had the spirit of the one true God, who, by the grace of
our redemption, hath filled the hearts of his elect servants; of whom St. John saith: “He
was the true light, which doth lighten every man coming into this world,”[John 1:9]. Of
whom, again, we find it written: “Of his fulness we have all received,”[John 1:16].
For God’s holy servants might receive virtues of our Lord, but to bestow them upon others
they could not; and therefore it was he that gave the signs of miracles to his servants, who
promised to give the sign of Jonas to his enemies [Matt. 12:40]: so that he vouchsafed to die in
the sight of the proud, and to rise again before the eyes of the humble: to the end, that they
might behold what they contemned, and those see that which they ought to worship and love: by
reason of which mystery it cometh to pass that, whereas the proud cast their eyes upon the
contempt of his death, the humble contrariwise, against death, lay hold of the glory of his power
and might.

PETER: To what places, I pray you, after this, did the holy man go: and whether did he
afterward in them work any miracles, or no?

GREGORY: The holy man, changing his place, did not for all that change his enemy. For
afterward he endured so much the more grievous battles, by how much he had now the master of all
wickedness fighting openly against him. For the town, which is called Cassino, standeth upon the
side of an high mountain, which containeth, as it were in the lap thereof, the foresaid town, and
afterward so riseth in height the space of three miles, that the top thereof seemeth to touch the
very heavens: in this place there was an ancient chapel in which the foolish and simple country
people, according to the custom of the old gentiles, worshipped the god Apollo. Round about it
likewise upon all sides, there were woods for the service of the devils, in which even to that
very time, the mad multitude of infidels did offer most wicked sacrifice. The man of God coming
thither, beat in pieces the idol, overthrew the altar, set fire to the woods, and in the temple
of Apollo, he built the oratory of St. Martin, and where the altar of the same Apollo was, he
made an oratory of St. John: and by his continual preaching, he brought the people dwelling in
those parts to embrace the faith of Christ.

The old enemy of mankind, not taking this in good part, did not privily or in a dream, but in
open sight present himself to the eyes of that holy father, and with great outcries complained
that he had offered him violence. The noise which he made, the monks did hear, but himself they
could not see: but, as the venerable father told them, he appeared visibly unto him most fell and
cruel, and as though, with his fiery mouth and flaming eyes, he would have torn him in pieces:
what the devil said unto him, all the monks did hear; for first he would call him by his name,
and because the man of God vouchsafed him not any answer, then would he fall a-reviling and
railing at him: for when he cried out, calling him “Blessed Benedict,”and yet found
that he gave him no answer, straightways he would turn his tune, and say: “Cursed Benedict,
and not blessed: what hast thou to do with me? and why dost thou thus persecute
me?”Wherefore new battles of the old enemy against the servant of God are to be looked for,
against whom willingly did he make war, but, against his will, did he give him occasion of many
notable victories.

CHAPTER NINE: HOW VENERABLE BENEDICT, BY HIS PRAYER, REMOVED AN HUGE STONE.

Upon a certain day, when the monks were building up the cells of the same Abbey, there lay a
stone which they meant to employ about that business: and when two or three were not able to
remove it, they called for more company, but all in vain, for it remained so immovable as though
it had grown to the very earth: whereby they plainly perceived that the devil himself did sit
upon it, seeing so may men’s hands could not so much as once move it: wherefore, finding
that their own labours could do nothing, they sent for the man of God, to help them with his
prayers against the devil, who hindered the removing of that stone. The holy man came, and after
some praying, he gave it his blessing, and then they carried it away so quickly, as though it had
been of no weight at all.

CHAPTER TEN: OF THE FANTASTICAL FIRE, WHICH BURNT THE KITCHEN.

Then the man of God thought good that they should presently before his departure dig up the
ground in the same place; which being done, and a deep hole made, the monks found there an idol
of brass, which being for a little while by chance cast into the kitchen, they beheld fire
suddenly to come from it, which to all their sight seemed to set the whole kitchen on fire; for
the quenching whereof, the monks by casting on of water made such a noise, that the man of God,
hearing it, came to see what the matter was: and himself beholding not any fire at all,which they
said that they did, he bowed down his head forthwith to his prayers, and then he perceived that
they were deluded with fantastical fire, and therefore bad them bless their eyes, that they might
behold the kitchen safe and sound, and not those fantastical flames, which the devil had falsely
devised.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: HOW VENERABLE BENEDICT REVIVED A BOY, CRUSHED TO DEATH WITH THE RUIN OF A
WALL.

Again, as the monks were making of a certain wall somewhat higher, because that was requisite,
the man of God in the meantime was in his cell at his prayers. To whom the old enemy appeared in
an insulting manner, telling him, that he was now going to his monks, that were a-working:
whereof the man of God, in all haste, gave them warning, wishing them to look unto themselves,
because the devil was at that time coming amongst them. The message was scarce delivered, when as
the wicked spirit overthrew the new wall which they were a building, and with the fall slew a
little young child, a monk, who was the son of a certain courtier. At which pitiful chance all
were passing sorry and exceedingly grieved, not so much for the loss of the wall, as for the
death of their brother: and in all haste they sent this heavy news to the venerable man Benedict;
who commanded them to bring unto him the young boy, mangled and maimed as he was, which they did,
but yet they could not carry him any otherwise than in a sack: for the stones of the wall had not
only broken his limbs, but also his very bones. Being in that manner brought unto the man of God,
he bad them to lay him in his cell, and in that place upon which he used to pray; and then,
putting them all forth, he shut the door, and fell more instantly to his prayers than he used at
other times. And O strange miracle! for the very same hour he made him sound, and as lively as
ever he was before; and sent him again to his former work, that he also might help the monks to
make an end of that wall, of whose death the old serpent thought he should have insulted over
Benedict, and greatly triumphed.

CHAPTER TWELVE: HOW BY REVELATION VENERABLE BENEDICT KNEW THAT HIS MONKS HAD EATEN OUT OF
THE MONASTERY.

Among other miracles which the man of God did, he began also to be famous for the spirit of
prophecy: as to foretell what was to happen, and to relate unto them that were present, such
things as were done in absence. The order of his Abbey was, that when the monks went abroad (to
deliver any message) never to eat or drink anything out of their cloister: and this being
diligently observed, according to the prescription of their rule, upon a certain day some of the
monks went forth upon such business: and being enforced about the dispatch thereof to tarry
somewhat long abroad, it fell so out that they stayed at the house of a religious woman, where
they did eat and refresh themselves. And being late before they came back to the Abbey, they went
as the manner was, and asked their father’s blessing: of whom he demanded where they had
eaten: and they said nowhere. “Why do you,”quoth he, “tell an untruth? for did
you not go into such a woman’s house? and eat such and such kind of meat, and drink so many
cups?”When they heard him recount so in particular, both where they had stayed, what kind
of meat they had eaten, and how often they had drunk, and perceived well that he knew all
whatsoever they had done, they fell down trembling at his feet, and confessed that they had done
wickedly: who straightways pardoned them for that fault, persuading himself that they would not
any more in his absence presume to do any such thing, seeing they now perceived that he was
present with them in spirit.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: OF THE BROTHER OF VALENTINIAN THE MONK, WHOM THE MAN OF GOD BLAMED FOR
EATING IN HIS JOURNEY.

A brother also of Valentinian the monk, of whom I made mention before, was a layman, but
devout and religious: who used every year, as well to desire the prayers of God’s servant,
as also to visit his natural brother, to travel from his own house to the Abbey: and his manner
was, not to eat anything all that day before he came thither. Being therefore upon a time in his
journey, he lighted into the company of another that carried meat about him to eat by the way:
who, after the day was well spent, spake unto him in this manner: “Come,
brother,”quoth he, “let us refresh ourselves, that we faint not in our
journey”: to whom he answered: “God forbid: for eat I will not by any means, seeing I
am now going to the venerable father Benedict, and my custom is to fast until I see
him.”The other, upon this answer, said no more for the space of an hour. But afterward,
having travelled a little further again he was in hand with him to eat something: yet then
likewise he utterly refused, because he meant to go through fasting as he was. His companion was
content, and so went forward with him, without taking anything himself. But when they had now
gone very far, and were well wearied with long travelling, at length they came unto a meadow,
where there was a fountain, and all such other pleasant things as use to refresh men’s
bodies. Then his companion said to him again: “Behold here is water, a green meadow, and a
very sweet place, in which we may refresh ourselves and rest a little, that we may be the better
able to dispatch the rest of our journey.”Which kind words bewitching his ears, and the
pleasant place flattering his eyes, content he was to yield unto the motion, and so they fell to
their meat together: and coming afterward in the evening to the Abbey, they brought him to the
venerable father Benedict, of whom he desired his blessing. Then the holy man objected against
him what he had done in the way, speaking to him in this manner: “How fell it out,
brother,”quoth he, “that the devil talking to you, by means of your companion, could
not at the first nor second time persuade you: but yet he did at the third, and made you do what
best pleased him?”The good man, hearing these words, fell down at his feet, confessing the
fault of his frailty; was grieved, and so much the more ashamed of his sin, because he perceived
that though he were absent, that yet he did offend in the sight of that venerable father.

PETER: I see well that the holy man had in his soul the spirit of Eliseus, who was present
with his servant Giezi, being then absent from him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: HOW THE DISSIMULATION OF KING TOTILAS WAS DISCOVERED AND FOUND OUT BY
VENERABLE BENEDICT.

GREGORY: You must, good Peter, for a little while be silent, that you may know matters yet far
more important. For in the time of the Goths, when Totilas, their king, understood that the holy
man had the spirit of prophecy, as he was going towards his monastery, he remained in a place
somewhat far off, and beforehand sent the father word of his coming: to whom answer was returned,
that he might come at his pleasure. The king, as he was a man wickedly disposed, thought he would
try whether the man of God were a prophet, as it was reported, or no. A certain man of his guard
he had, called Riggo, upon whom he caused his own shoes to be put, and to be apparelled with his
other princely robes, commanding him to go as it were himself to the man of God; and to give the
better colour to this device, he sent three to attend upon him, who especially were always about
the king: to wit, Vultericus, Rudericus, and Blindinus; charging them that in the presence of the
servant of God, they should be next about him, and behave themselves in such sort as though he
had been king Totilas indeed: and that diligently they should do unto him all other services, to
the end that both by such dutiful kind of behaviour, as also by his purple robes, he might verily
be taken for the king himself. Riggo, furnished with that brave apparel, and accompanied with
many courtiers, came unto the Abbey: at which time the man of God sat a little way off, and when
Riggo was come so near that he might well understand what the man of God said, then, in the
hearing of them all, he spake thus: “Put off, my good son, put off that apparel, for that
which thou hast on, is none of thine.”Riggo, hearing this, fell straightways down to the
ground, and was very much afraid, for presuming to go about to mock so worthy a man, and all his
attendants and servitors fell down likewise to the earth, and after they were up again, they
durst not approach any nearer to his presence: but returned back to their king, telling him with
fear, how quickly they were discovered.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HOW VENERABLE BENEDICT PROPHESIED TO KING TOTILAS, AND ALSO TO THE BISHOP
OF CAMISINA, SUCH THINGS AS WERE AFTERWARD TO FALL OUT.

Then Totilas himself in person went unto the man of God; and seeing him sitting afar off, he
durst not come near, but fell down to the ground: whom the holy man (speaking to him twice or
thrice) desired to rise up and at length came unto him, and with his own hands lifted him up from
the earth, where he lay prostrate: and then, entering into talk, he reprehended him for his
wicked deeds, and in few words told him all that which should befall him, saying: “Much
wickedness do you daily commit, and many great sins have you done: now at length give over your
sinful life. Into the city of Rome shall you enter, and over the sea shall you pass: nine years
shall you reign, and in the tenth shall you leave this mortal life.”The king, hearing these
things, was wonderfully afraid, and desiring the holy man to commend him to God in his prayers,
he departed: and from that time forward he was nothing so cruel as before he had been. Not long
after he went to Rome, sailed over into Sicily, and, in the tenth year of his reign, he lost his
kingdom together with his life.

The Bishop also of Camisina used to visit the servant of God, whom the holy man dearly loved
for his virtuous life. The Bishop, therefore, talking with him of King Totilas, of his taking of
Rome, and the destruction of that city, said: “This city will be so spoiled and ruined by
him, that it will never be more inhabited.”To whom the man of God answered:
“Rome,”quoth he, “shall not be utterly destroyed by strangers: but shall be so
shaken with tempests, lightnings, whirlwinds, and earthquakes, that it will fall to decay of
itself.”The mysteries of which prophecy we now behold as clear as the day: for we see
before our eyes in this very city, by a strange whirlwind the world shaken, houses ruined, and
churches overthrown, and buildings rotten with old age we behold daily to fall down. True it is
that Honoratus, by whose relation I had this, saith not that he received it from his own mouth,
but that he had it of other monks, which did hear it themselves.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: OF A CERTAIN CLERGYMAN, WHOM VENERABLE BENEDICT FOR A TIME DELIVERED FROM
A DEVIL.

At the same time a certain clergyman, that served in the church of Aquinum, was possessed:
whom the venerable man Constantius, Bishop of the same city, sent unto many places of holy
martyrs for help: but God’s holy martyrs would not deliver him, to the end that the world
might know what great grace was in the servant of God, Benedict: wherefore at length he was
brought unto him, who, praying for help to Jesus Christ our Lord, did forthwith cast the old
enemy out of the possessed man’s body, giving him this charge: “Go your way, and
hereafter abstain from eating of flesh, and presume not to enter into holy orders, for whensoever
you shall attempt any such thing, the devil again will have power over you.”The man
departed safe and sound, and because punishment fresh in memory useth to terrify the mind, he
observed for a time what the man of God had given him in commandment. But after many years, when
all his seniors were dead, and he saw his juniors preferred before him to holy orders, he
neglected the words of the man of God, as though forgotten through length of time, and took upon
him holy orders: whereupon straightways the devil that before had left him entered again, and
never gave over to torment him, until he had separated his soul from his body.

PETER: This holy man, as I perceive, did know the secret counsel of God: for he saw that this
clergyman was delivered to the power of the devil, to the end he should not presume to enter into
holy orders.

GREGORY: Why should he not know the secrets of God, who kept the commandments of God: when as
the scripture saith: “He that cleaveth unto our Lord, is one spirit with him?”[1 Cor.
6:17]

PETER: If he that cleaveth unto our Lord, be one spirit with our Lord, what is the meaning of
that which the Apostle saith: “Who knoweth the sense of our Lord, or who hath been his
counsellor?”[Rom. 11:34], for it seemeth very inconvenient to be ignorant of his sense, to
whom being so united he is made one thing.

GREGORY: Holy men, in that they be one with our Lord are not ignorant of his sense: for the
same Apostle saith: “For what man knoweth those things which belong to man, but the spirit
of man which is in him ? Even so, the things which belong to God, no man knoweth, but the spirit
of God.”And to show also that he knew such things as belong to God, he addeth straight
after: “But we have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of
God.”And for this cause, again he saith: “that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor
it hath ascended into the heart of man, those things which God hath prepared for them that love
him, but God hath revealed to us by his spirit.”[1 Cor. 2:9-12]

PETER: If, then, the mysteries of God were revealed to the same Apostle by the spirit of God,
why did he then, entreating of this question, set down these words beforehand, saying: “O
the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God: how incomprehensible be his
judgments, and his ways investigable?”[Rom. 11:33]

And again, whiles I am thus speaking of this matter, another question cometh to my mind: for
the prophet David said to our Lord: “With my lips have I uttered all the judgments of thy
mouth,”[Ps. 118 (119):13]. Wherefore, seeing it is less to know, than to utter: what is the
reason that St. Paul affirmeth the judgments of God to be incomprehensible; and yet David saith
that he did not know only them, but also with his lips pronounce them?

GREGORY: To both these questions I have already briefly answered, when I said that holy men,
in that they be one with our Lord, are not ignorant of the sense of our Lord. For all such, as do
devoutly follow our Lord, be also by devotion one with our Lord; and yet for all this, in that
they are laden with the burthen of their corruptible flesh, they be not with God: and so in that
they be joined with him, they know the secret judgments of God, and in that they be separated
from God, they know them not: for seeing they do not as yet perfectly penetrate his secret
mysteries, they give testimony that his judgments be incomprehensible.

But those that do with their soul adhere unto him, and cleaving unto the sayings of the holy
scripture, or to secret revelations, acknowledge what they receive: such persons both know these
things and do utter them: for those judgments which God doth conceal they know not, and those
which he doth utter they know: and therefore the prophet David, when he had said: “I have
with my lips uttered all the judgments;”[Ps. 118(119):13], he addeth immediately, “of
thy mouth:”as though he should plainly say: Those judgments I may both know and utter,
which I knew thou didst speak, for those things which thou dost not speak, without all question,
thou dost conceal from our knowledge.

Wherefore the saying of David and St. Paul agree together: for the judgments of God are
incomprehensible; and yet those which himself with his own mouth vouchsafeth to speak, are
uttered with men’s tongues: because men may come to the knowledge of them, and being
revealed, they may be uttered, and by no means can be kept secret.

PETER: Now I see the answer to my question. But I pray you to proceed, if anything yet
remaineth to be told of his virtue and miracles.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: HOW THE MAN OF GOD, BENEDICT, DID FORETELL THE SUPPRESSION OF ONE OF HIS
OWN ABBEYS.

GREGORY: A certain noble man called Theoprobus was by the good counsel of holy Benedict
converted: who, for his virtue and merit of life, was very intrinsical and familiar with him.
This man upon a day, coming into his cell, found him weeping very bitterly. And having expected a
good while, and yet not seeing him to make an end (for the man of God used not in his prayers to
weep, but rather to be sad), he demanded the cause of that his so great heaviness, to whom he
answered straightway, saying: “All this Abbey which I have built, and all such things as I
have made ready for my brethren, are by the judgment of almighty God delivered to the gentiles,
to be spoiled and overthrown: and scarce could I obtain of God to have their lives spared, that
should then live in it.”His words Theoprobus then heard, but we see them to be proved most
true, who know that very Abbey to be now suppressed by the Lombards. For not long since, in the
night time, when the monks were asleep, they entered in, and spoiled all things, but yet not one
man could they retain there, and so almighty God fulfilled what he promised to his faithful
servant: for though he gave them the house and all the goods, yet did he preserve their lives. In
which thing I see that Benedict imitated St. Paul: whose ship though it lost all the goods, yet,
for his comfort, he had the lives of all that were in his company bestowed upon him, so that no
one man was cast away.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: HOW BLESSED BENEDICT KNEW THE HIDING AWAY OF A FLAGON OF WINE.

Upon a certain time, Exhilaratus our monk, a lay-brother, whom you know, was sent by his
master to the monastery of the man of God, to carry him two wooden bottles, commonly called
flagons, full of wine: who in the way, as he was going, hid one of them in a bush for himself,
and presented the other to venerable Benedict: who took it very thankfully, and, when the man was
going away, he gave him this warning: “Take heed, my son,”quoth he, “that thou
drinkest not of that flagon which thou hast hidden in the bush: but first be careful to bow it
down, and thou shalt find what is within it.”The poor man, thus pitifully confounded by the
man of God, went his way, and coming back to the place where the flagon was hidden, and desirous
to try the truth of that was told him, as he was bowing it down, a snake straightways leaped
forth. Then Exhilaratus perceiving what was gotten into the wine, began to be afraid of that
wickedness which he had committed.

CHAPTER NINETEEN: HOW THE MAN OF GOD KNEW THAT ONE OF HIS MONKS HAD RECEIVED CERTAIN
HANDKERCHIEFS.

Not far from his Abbey, there was a village, in which very many men had, by the sermons of
Benedict, been converted from idolatry to the true faith of Christ. Certain Nuns also there were
in the same town, to whom he did often send some of his monks to preach unto them, for the good
of their souls. Upon a day, one that was sent, after he had made an end of his exhortation, by
the entreaty of the Nuns took certain small napkins, and hid them for his own use in his bosom:
whom, upon his return to the Abbey, the man of God very sharply rebuked, saying: “How
cometh it to pass, brother, that sin is entered into your bosom ?”At which words the monk
was much amazed for he had quite forgotten what he had put there; and therefore knew not any
cause why he should deserve that reprehension: whereupon the holy man spake to him in plain
terms, and said: “Was not I present when you took the handkerchiefs of the Nuns, and put
them up in your bosom for your own private use?”The monk, hearing this, fell down at his
feet, and was sorry that he had behaved himself so indiscreetly: forth he drew those napkins from
his bosom, and threw them all away.

CHAPTER TWENTY: HOW HOLY BENEDICT KNEW THE PROUD THOUGHT OF ONE OF HIS MONKS.

Upon a time, whiles the venerable Father was at supper, one of his monks, who was the son of a
great man, held the candle: and as he was standing there, and the other at his meat, he began to
entertain a proud cogitation in his mind, and to speak thus within himself: “Who is he,
that I thus wait upon at supper, and hold him the candle? and who am I, that I should do him any
such service?”Upon which thought straightways the holy man turned himself, and with severe
reprehension spake thus unto him: “Sign your heart, brother, for what is it that you say?
Sign your heart”: and forthwith he called another of the monks, and bad him take the candle
out of his hands, and commanded him to give over his waiting, and to repose himself: who being
demanded of the monks, what it was that he thought, told them, how inwardly he swelled with
pride, and what he spake against the man of God, secretly in his own heart. Then they all saw
very well that nothing could be hidden from venerable Benedict, seeing the very sound of
men’s inward thoughts came unto his ears.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: OF TWO HUNDRED BUSHELS OF MEAL, FOUND BEFORE THE MAN OF GOD’S
CELL.

At another time, there was a great dearth in the same country of Campania: so that all kind of
people tasted of the misery: and all the wheat of Benedict’s monastery was spent, and
likewise all the bread, so that there remained no more than five loaves for dinner. The venerable
man, beholding the monks sad, both rebuked them modestly for their pusillanimity, and again did
comfort them with this promise: “Why,”quoth he, “are you so grieved in your
minds for lack of bread? Indeed, today some want there is, but tomorrow you shall have
plenty”: and so it fell out, for the next day two hundred bushels of meal was found in
sacks before his cell door, which almighty God sent them: but by whom, or what means, that is
unknown to this very day: which miracle when the monks saw, they gave God thanks, and by this
learned in want, not to make any doubt of plenty.

PETER: Tell me, I pray you, whether this servant of God had always the spirit of prophecy,
when himself pleased, or only at certain times?

GREGORY: The spirit of prophecy doth not always illuminate the minds of the prophets; because,
as it is written of the Holy Ghost that “he breatheth where he will”[John 3:8], so we
are also to know that he doth breathe likewise for what cause, and when he pleaseth. And hereof
it cometh, that when king David demanded of Nathan whether he might build a temple for the honour
of God, the prophet Nathan gave his consent; and yet afterward utterly forbad it. From hence
likewise it proceedeth that, when Eliseus saw the woman weeping, and knew not the cause, he said
to his servant that did trouble her: “Let her alone, for her soul is in grief, and God hath
concealed it from me, and hath not told me.”[4 Kings 4:27] Which thing almighty God of
great piety so disposeth: for giving at some times the spirit of prophecy, and at other times
withdrawing it, he doth both lift up the prophets minds on high, and yet doth preserve them in
humility: that by the gift of the Spirit, they may know what they are by God’s grace: and
at other times, destitute of the same Spirit, may understand what they are of themselves.

PETER: There is very great reason for that you say. But, I pray you, let me hear more of the
venerable man Benedict, if there be anything else that cometh to your remembrance.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: HOW, BY VISION, VENERABLE BENEDICT DISPOSED THE BUILDING OF THE ABBEY
OF TARACINA.

GREGORY: At another time he was desired by a certain virtuous man, to build an Abbey for his
monks upon his ground, not far from the city of Taracina. The holy man was content, and appointed
an Abbot and Prior, with divers monks under them: and when they were departing, he promised that,
upon such a day, he would come and shew them in what place the oratory should be made, and where
the refectory should stand, and all the other necessary rooms: and so they, taking his blessing,
went their way; and against the day appointed, which they greatly expected, they made all such
things ready as were necessary to entertain him, and those that should come in his company. But
the very night before, the man of God in sleep appeared to the Abbot and the Prior, and
particularly described unto them where each place and office was to be builded. And when they
were both risen, they conferred together what either of them had seen in their sleep: but yet not
giving full credit to that vision, they expected the man of God himself in person, according to
his promise. But when they saw that he came not, they returned back unto him very sorrowfully,
saying: “We expected, father, that you should have come according to promise, and told us
where each place should have been built, which yet you did not.”To whom he answered:
“Why say you so, good brethren? Did not I come as I promised you?”And when they asked
at what time it was: “Why,”quoth he, “did not I appear to either of you in your
sleep, and appointed how and where every place was to be builded? Go your way, and according to
that platform which you then saw, build up the abbey.”At which word they much marvelled,
and returning back, they caused it to be builded in such sort as they had been taught of him by
revelation.

PETER: Gladly would I learn, by what means that could be done: to wit, that he should go so
far to tell them that thing in their sleep, which they should both hear and know by vision.

GREGORY: Why do you, Peter, seek out and doubt, in what manner this thing was done? For
certain it is, that the soul is of a more noble nature than the body. And by authority of
scripture we know that the prophet Abacuck was carried from Judea with that dinner which he had,
and was suddenly set in Chaldea; by which meat the prophet Daniel was relieved: and presently
after was brought back again to Judea. If, then, Abacuck could in a moment with his body go so
far, and carry provision for another man’s dinner: what marvel is it, if the holy father
Benedict obtained grace to go in spirit and to inform the souls of his brethren that were asleep,
concerning such things as were necessary: and that as Abacuck about corporal meat went
corporally, so Benedict should go spiritually about the dispatch of spiritual business?

PETER: I confess that your words have satisfied my doubtful mind. But I would know what manner
of man he was in his ordinary talk and conversation.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: OF CERTAIN NUNS ABSOLVED AFTER THEIR DEATH.

GREGORY: His common talk, Peter, was usually full of virtue: for his heart conversed to above
in heaven, that no words could in vain proceed from his mouth. And if at any time he spake aught,
yet not as one that determined what was best to be done, but only in a threatening manner, his
speech in that case was so effectual and forcible, as though he had not doubtfully or
uncertainly, but assuredly pronounced and given sentence.

For not far from his Abbey, there lived two Nuns in a place by themselves, born of worshipful
parentage: whom a religious good man did serve for the dispatch of their outward business. But as
nobility of family doth in some breed ignobility of mind, and maketh them in conversation to show
less humility, because they remember still what superiority they had above others: even so was it
with these Nuns: for they had not yet learned to temper their tongues, and keep them under with
the bridle of their habit: for often did they by their indiscreet speech provoke the foresaid
religious man to anger; who having borne with them a long time, at length he complained to the
man of God, and told him with what reproachful words they entreated him: whereupon he sent them
by and by this message, saying: “Amend your tongues, otherwise I do excommunicate
you”; which sentence of excommunication notwithstanding, he did not then presently
pronounce against them, but only threatened if they amended not themselves.

But they, for all this, changed their conditions nothing at all: both which not long after
departed this life, and were buried in the church: and when solemn mass was celebrated in the
same church, and the Deacon, according to custom, said with loud voice: “If any there be
that do not communicate, let them depart”: the nurse, which used to give unto our Lord an
offering for them, beheld them at that time to rise out of their graves, and to depart the
church. Having often times, at those words of the Deacon, seen them leave the church, and that
they could not tarry within, she remembered what message the man of God sent them whiles they
were yet alive. For he told them that he did deprive them of the communion, unless they did amend
their tongues and conditions. Then with great sorrow, the whole matter was signified to the man
of God, who straightways with his own hands gave an oblation, saying: “Go your ways, and
cause this to be offered unto our Lord for them, and they shall not remain any longer
excommunicate”: which oblation being offered for them, and the Deacon, as he used, crying
out, that such as did not communicate should depart, they were not seen any more to go out of the
church: whereby it was certain that, seeing they did not depart with them which did not
communicate, that they had received the communion of our Lord by the hands of his servant.

PETER: It is very strange that you report: for how could he, though a venerable and most holy
man, yet living in mortal body, loose those souls which stood now before the invisible judgment
of God?

GREGORY: Was he not yet, Peter, mortal, that heard from our Saviour: “Whatsoever thou
shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in the heavens: and whatsoever thou shalt loose in
earth, shall be loosed also in the heavens?”[Matt. 16:19] whose place of binding and
loosing those have at this time, which by faith and virtuous life possess the place of holy
government: and to bestow such power upon earthly men, the Creator of heaven and earth descended
from heaven to earth: and that flesh might judge of spiritual things, God, who for man’s
sake was made flesh, vouchsafed to bestow upon him: for from thence our weakness did rise up
above itself, from whence the strength of God was weakened under itself.

PETER: For the virtue of his miracles, your words do yield a very good reason.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: OF A BOY THAT AFTER HIS BURIAL WAS CAST OUT OF HIS GRAVE.

GREGORY: Upon a certain day, a young boy that was a monk, loving his parents more than reason
would, went from the Abbey to their house, not craving the father’s blessing beforehand:
and the same day that he came home unto them, he departed this life. And being buried, his body,
the next day after, was found cast out of the grave; which they caused again to be put in, and
again, the day following, they found it as before. Then in great haste they went to the man of
God, fell down at his feet, and with many tears beseeched him that he would vouchsafe him that
was dead of his favour. To whom the man of God with his own hands delivered the holy communion of
our Lord’s body, saying: “Go, and lay with great reverence this our Lord’s body
upon his breast, and so bury him”: which when they had done, the dead corpse after that
remained quietly in the grave. By which you perceive, Peter, of what merit he was with our Lord
Jesus Christ, seeing the earth would not give entertainment to his body, who departed this world
out of Benedict’s favour.

PETER: I perceive it very well, and do wonderfully admire it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: HOW A MONK, FORSAKING THE ABBEY, MET WITH A DRAGON IN THE WAY.

GREGORY: A certain monk there was so inconstant and fickle of mind, that he would needs give
over the Abbey; for which fault of his, the man of God did daily rebuke him, and often times gave
him good admonitions: but yet, for all this, by no means would he tarry amongst them, and
therefore continual suit he made that he might be discharged. The venerable man upon a time,
wearied with his importunity, in anger bad him depart; who was no sooner out of the Abbey gate,
but he found a dragon in the way expecting him with open mouth, which being about to devour him,
he began in great fear and trembling to cry out aloud, saying: “Help, help! for this dragon
will eat me up.”At which noise the monks running out, dragon they saw none, but finding him
there shaking and trembling, they brought him back again to the Abbey, who forthwith promised
that he would never more forsake the monastery, and so ever after he continued in his profession:
for by the prayers of the holy man, he saw the dragon coming against him, whom before, when he
saw not, he did willingly follow.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: HOW HOLY BENEDICT CURED A BOY OF LEPROSY.

But I must not here pass over with silence that which I had by relation of the honourable man,
Anthony, who said that his father’s boy was so pitifully punished with a leprosy, that all
his hair fell off, his body swelled, and filthy corruption did openly come forth. Who being sent
by his father to the man of God, he was by him quickly restored to his former health.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: HOW BENEDICT FOUND MONEY MIRACULOUSLY TO RELIEVE A POOR MAN.

Neither is that to be omitted, which one of his disciples called Peregrinus used to tell: for
he said that, upon a certain day, an honest man, who was in debt, found no other means to help
himself, but thought it his best way to acquaint the man of God with his necessity: whereupon he
came to the Abbey, and finding the servant of almighty God, gave him to understand, how he was
troubled by his creditor for twelve shillings which he did owe him. To whom the venerable man
said that himself had not so much money, yet giving him comfortable words, he said: “Go
your ways, and after two days come to me again, for I can not presently help you”: in which
two days, after his manner, he bestowed himself in prayer: and when upon the third day the poor
man came back there were found suddenly upon the chest of the Abbey, which was full of corn,
thirteen shillings: which the man of God caused to be given to him that required but twelve, both
to discharge his debt, and also to defray his own charges.

But now will I return to speak of such things as I had from the mouth of his own scholars,
mentioned before in the beginning of this book. A certain man there was who had an enemy that did
notably spite and malign him, whose damnable hatred proceeded so far that he poisoned his drink,
which, although it killed him not, yet did it change his skin in such sort that it was of many
colours, as though he had been infected with a leprosy: but the man of God restored him to his
former health: for so soon as he touched him, forthwith all that variety of colours departed from
his body.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: HOW A CRUET OF GLASS WAS THROWN UPON THE STONES, AND NOT BROKEN.

At such time as there was a great dearth in Campania, the man of God had given away all the
wealth of the Abbey to poor people, so that in the cellar there was nothing left but a little oil
in a glass. A certain sub-deacon called Agapitus came unto him, instantly craving that he would
bestow a little oil upon him. Our Lord’s servant, that was resolved to give away all upon
earth that he might find all in heaven, commanded that oil to be given him: but the monk that
kept the cellar heard what the father commanded, yet did he not perform it: who inquiring not
long after whether he had given that which he willed, the monk told him that he had not, adding
that if he had given it away, that there was not any left for the Convent. Then in an anger he
commanded others to take that glass with the oil, and to throw it out at the window, to the end
that nothing might remain in the Abbey contrary to obedience. The monks did so, and threw it out
at a window, under which there was an huge downfall, full of rough and craggy stones upon which
the glass did light, but yet continued for all that so sound as though it had never been thrown
out at all, for neither the glass was broken nor any of the oil shed. Then the man of God did
command it to be taken up again, and, whole as it was, to be given unto him that desired it, and
in the presence of the other brethren he reprehended the disobedient monk, both for his
infidelity, and also for his proud mind.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: HOW AN EMPTY BARREL WAS FILLED WITH OIL.

After which reprehension, with the rest of his brethren he fell to praying, and in the place
where they were, there stood an empty barrel with a cover upon it: and as the holy man continued
in his prayers, the oil within did so increase, that the cover began to be lifted up, and at
length fell down, and the oil, that was now higher than the mouth of the barrel, began to run
over upon the pavement, which so soon as the servant of God, Benedict, beheld, forthwith he gave
over his prayers, and the oil likewise ceased to overflow the barrel. Then he did more at large
admonish that mistrusting and disobedient monk, that he would learn to have faith and humility,
who upon so wholesome an admonition was ashamed, because the venerable father had by miracle
shown the power of almighty God, as before he told him when he did first rebuke him: and so no
cause there was why any should afterward doubt of his promise, seeing at one and the same time,
for a small glass almost empty which he gave away, he bestowed upon them an whole barrel full of
oil.

CHAPTER THIRTY: HOW BENEDICT DELIVERED A MONK FROM THE DEVIL.

Upon a certain time, as he was going to the oratory of St. John, which is in the top of the
mountain, the old enemy of mankind upon a mule, like a physician, met him, carrying in his hand
an horn and a mortar. And when he demanded whither he was going: “To your
monks,”quoth he, “to give them a drench”[i.e. a large dose of veterinary
medicine].

The venerable father went forward to his prayers, and when he had done, he returned in all
haste, but the wicked spirit found an old monk drawing of water, into whom he entered, and
straightways cast him upon the ground, and grievously tormented him. The man of God coming from
his prayers, and seeing him in such pitiful case gave him only a little blow with his hand, and
at the same instant he cast out that cruel devil, so that he durst not any more presume to enter
in.

PETER: I would gladly know, whether he obtained always by prayer, to work such notable
miracles; or else sometimes did them only at his will and pleasure.

GREGORY: Such as be the devout servants of God, when necessity requireth, use to work miracles
both manner of ways: so that sometime they effect wonderful things by their prayers, and sometime
only by their power and authority: for St. John saith: “So many as received him, he gave
them power to be made the sons of God.”[John 1:12] They, then, that by power be the sons of
God, what marvel is it, if by power they be able to do wonderful things? And that both ways they
work miracles, we learn of St. Peter: who by his prayers did raise up Tabitha; and by his sharp
reprehension did sentence Ananias and Sapphira to death for their lying. For we read not, that in
the death of them he prayed at all, but only rebuked them for that sin which they had committed.
Certain therefore it is that sometimes they do these things by power, and sometimes by prayer:
for Ananias and Sapphira by a severe rebuke, St. Peter deprived of life: and by prayer restored
Tabitha to life. And for proof of this, I will now tell you of two miracles, which the faithful
servant of God, Benedict, did, in which it shall appear most plainly that he wrought the one by
that power which God gave him, and obtained the other by virtue of his prayers.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: OF A COUNTRY FELLOW, THAT, WITH THE ONLY SIGHT OF THE MAN OF GOD, WAS
LOOSED FORM HIS BANDS.

A certain Goth there was called Galla, an Arian heretic, who, in the time of King Totilas, did
with such monstrous cruelty persecute religious men of the Catholic church, that what priest or
monk soever came in his presence, he never departed alive. This man on a certain day, set upon
rapine and pillage, pitifully tormented a poor country man, to make him confess where his money
and wealth was: who, overcome with extremity of pain, said that he had committed all his
substance to the custody of Benedict, the servant of God: and this he did, to the end that his
tormentor, giving credit to his words, might at least for a while surcease from his horrible
cruelty.

Galla hearing this tormented him no longer: but binding his arms fast with strong cords, drave
him before his horse, to bring him unto this Benedict, who, as he said, had his wealth in
keeping. The country fellow, thus pinioned and running before him, carried him to the holy
man’s Abbey, where he found him sitting before the gate, reading upon a book. Then turning
back to Galla that came raging after, he said: “This is father Benedict, of whom I told
you”: who looking upon him, in a great fury, thinking to deal as terribly with him as he
had with others, cried out aloud to him, saying: “Rise up, sirrah, rise up, and deliver me
quickly such wealth as thou hast of this man’s in keeping.”

The man of God, hearing such a noise, straightways lifted up his eyes from reading, and beheld
both him and the country fellow; and turning his eyes to his bands, very strangely they fell from
his arms, and that so quickly as no man with any haste could have undone them. Galla, seeing him
so wonderfully and quickly loosed, fell straight a-trembling, and prostrating himself upon the
earth bowed down his cruel and stiff neck to the holy man’s feet, and with humility did
commend himself to his prayers. But the venerable man for all this rose not up from his reading,
but calling for some of his monks commanded them to have him in, and to give him some meat. And
when he was brought back again, he gave him a good lesson, admonishing him not to use any more
such rigour and cruel dealing. His proud mind thus taken down, away he went, but durst not demand
after that anything of the country fellow, whom the man of God, not with hands, but only with his
eyes, had loosed from his bands.

And this is that, Peter, which I told you, that those which in a more familiar sort serve God,
do sometime, by certain power and authority bestowed upon them, work miracles. For he that
sitting still did appease the fury of that cruel Goth, and unloose with his eyes those knots and
cords which did pinion the innocent man’s arms, did plainly shew by the quickness of the
miracle, that he had received power to work all that which he did. And now will I likewise tell
you of another miracle, which by prayer he obtained at God s hands.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: HOW BY PRAYER VENERABLE BENEDICT RAISED UP A DEAD CHILD.

Being upon a day gone out with his monks to work in the field, a country man carrying the
corpse of his dead son came to the gate of the Abbey, lamenting the loss of his child: and
inquiring for holy Benedict, they told him that he was abroad with his monks in the field. Down
at the gate he laid the dead body, and with great sorrow of soul ran in haste to seek out the
venerable father. At the same time, the man of God was returning homeward from work with his
monks: whom so soon as he saw, he [the country man] began to cry out: “Give me my son, give
me my son!”

The man of God, amazed at these words, stood still, and said: “What, have I taken away
your son?”“No, no,”quoth the sorrowful father, “but he is dead: come for
Christ Jesus’ sake and restore him to life.”

The servant of God, hearing him speak in that manner, and seeing his monks upon compassion to
solicit the poor man’s suit, with great sorrow of mind he said: “Away, my good
brethren, away: such miracles are not for us to work, but for the blessed Apostles: why will you
lay such a burthen upon me, as my weakness cannot bear?”But the poor man, whom excessive
grief enforced, would not give over his petition, but swore that he would never depart, except he
did raise up his son.

“Where is he, then?”quoth God’s servant.

He answered that his body lay at the gate of the Abbey: to which place when the man of God
came with his monks, he kneeled down and lay upon the body of the little child, and rising, he
held up his hands towards heaven, and said: “Behold not, O Lord, my sins, but the faith of
this man, that desireth to have his son raised to life, and restore that soul to the body, which
thou hast taken away.”

He had scarce spoken these words, and behold the soul returned back again, and therewith the
child’s body began to tremble in such sort that all which were present did behold it in
strange manner to pant and shake. Then he took it by the hand and gave it to his father, but
alive and in health. Certain it is, Peter, that this miracle was not in his own power, for which
prostrate upon the ground he prayed so earnestly.

PETER: All is most true that before you said, for what you affirmed in words, you have now
verified by examples and works. But tell me, I beseech you, whether holy men can do all such
things as they please, and obtain at God’s hands whatsoever they desire.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: OF A MIRACLE WROUGHT BY HIS SISTER SCHOLASTICA.

GREGORY: What man is there, Peter, in this world, that is in greater favour with God than St.
Paul was: who yet three times desired our Lord to be delivered from the prick of the flesh, and
obtained not his petition? Concerning which point also I must needs tell you, how there was one
thing which the venerable father Benedict would have done, and yet he could not.

For his sister called Scholastica, dedicated from her infancy to our Lord, used once a year to
come and visit her brother. To whom the man of God went not far from the gate, to a place that
did belong to the Abbey, there to give her entertainment. And she coming thither on a time
according to her custom, her venerable brother with his monks went to meet her, where they spent
the whole day in the praises of God and spiritual talk: and when it was almost night they supped
together, and as they were yet sitting at the table, talking of devout matters, and darkness came
on, the holy Nun his sister entreated him to stay there all night, that they might spend it in
discoursing of the joys of heaven. But by no persuasion would he agree unto that, saying that he
might not by any means tarry all night out of his Abbey.

At that time, the sky was so clear that no cloud was to be seen. The Nun, receiving this
denial of her brother, joining her hands together, laid them upon the table: and so, bowing down
her head upon them, she made her prayers to almighty God: and lifting her head from the table,
there fell suddenly such a tempest of lightning and thundering, and such abundance of rain, that
neither venerable Benedict, nor his monks that were with him, could put their head out of door:
for the holy Nun, resting her head upon her hands, poured forth such a flood of tears upon the
table, that she drew the clear air to a watery sky, so that after the end of her devotions, that
storm of rain followed: and her prayer and the rain did so meet together, that as she lifted up
her head from the table, the thunder began, so that in one and the very same instant, she lifted
up her head and brought down the rain. The man of God, seeing that he could not by reason of such
thunder and lightning and great abundance of rain return back to his Abbey, began to be heavy and
to complain of his sister, saying: “God forgive you, what have you done?”to whom she
answered: “I desired you to stay, and you would not hear me, I have desired our good Lord,
and he hath vouchsafed to grant my petition: wherefore if you can now depart, in God’s name
return to your monastery, and leave me here alone.”

But the good father, being not able to go forth, tarried there against his will, where
willingly before he would not stay. And so by that means they watched all night, and with
spiritual and heavenly talk did mutually comfort one another: and therefore by this we see, as I
said before, that he would have had that thing, which yet he could not: for if we respect the
venerable man’s mind, no question but he would have had the same fair weather to have
continued as it was, when he set forth, but he found that a miracle did prevent his desire,
which, by the power of almighty God, a woman’s prayers had wrought. And it is not a thing
to be marvelled at, that a woman which of long time had not seen her brother, might do more at
that time than he could, seeing, according to the saying of St. John, “God is
charity”[1 John 4:8] and therefore of right she did more which loved more.

PETER: I confess that I am wonderfully pleased with that which you tell me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: HOW BENEDICT SAW THE SOUL OF HIS SISTER ASCEND INTO HEAVEN.

GREGORY: The next day the venerable woman returned to her Nunnery, and the man of God to his
Abbey: who three days after, standing in his cell, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, beheld the
soul of his sister (which was departed from her body), in the likeness of a dove to ascend into
heaven: who rejoicing much to see her great glory, with hymns and lauds gave thanks to almighty
God, and did impart the news of this her death to his monks, whom also he sent presently to bring
her corpse to his Abbey, to have it buried in that grave which he had provided for himself: by
means whereof it fell out that, as their souls were always one in God whiles they lived, so their
bodies continued together after their death.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: HOW HE SAW THE WHOLE WORLD REPRESENTED BEFORE HIS EYES; AND ALSO THE
SOUL OF GERMANUS, BISHOP OF CAPUA, ASCENDING TO HEAVEN.

At another time, Servandus, the Deacon, and Abbot of that monastery, which in times past was
founded by the noble man Liberius in the country of Campania, used ordinarily to come and visit
the man of God: and the reason why he came so often was, because himself also was a man full of
heavenly doctrine: and so they two had often together spiritual conference, to the end that,
albeit they could not perfectly feed upon the celestial food of heaven, yet, by means of such
sweet discourses, they might at least, with longing and fervent desire, taste of those joys and
divine delights. When it was time to go to rest, the venerable Father Benedict reposed himself in
the top of a tower, at the foot whereof Servandus the Deacon was lodged, so that one pair of
stairs went to them both: before the tower there was a certain large room in which both their
disciples did lie.

The man of God, Benedict, being diligent in watching, rose early up before the time of matins
(his monks being yet at rest) and came to the window of his chamber, where he offered up his
prayers to almighty God. Standing there, all on a sudden in the dead of the night, as he looked
forth, he saw a light, which banished away the darkness of the night, and glittered with such
brightness, that the light which did shine in the midst of darkness was far more clear than the
light of the day. Upon this sight a marvellous strange thing followed, for, as himself did
afterward report, the whole world, gathered as it were together under one beam of the sun, was
presented before his eyes, and whiles the venerable father stood attentively beholding the
brightness of that glittering light, he saw the soul of Germanus, Bishop of Capua, in a fiery
globe to be carried up by Angels into heaven.

Then, desirous to have some witness of this so notable a miracle, he called with a very loud
voice Servandus the Deacon twice or thrice by his name, who, troubled at such an unusual crying
out of the man of God, went up in all haste, and looking forth saw not anything else, but a
little remnant of the light, but wondering at so great a miracle, the man of God told him all in
order what he had seen, and sending by and by to the town of Cassino, he commanded the religious
man Theoprobus to dispatch one that night to the city of Capua, to learn what was become of
Germanus their Bishop: which being done, the messenger found that reverent Prelate departed this
life, and enquiring curiously the time, he understood that he died at that very instant, in which
the man of God beheld him ascending up to heaven.

PETER: A strange thing and very much to be admired. But whereas you say that the whole world,
as it were under one sunbeam, was presented before his eyes, as I must needs confess that in
myself I never had experience of any such thing, so neither can I conceive by what means the
whole world can be seen of any one man.

GREGORY: Assure yourself, Peter, of that which I speak: to wit, that all creatures be as it
were nothing to that soul which beholdeth the Creator: for though it see but a glimpse of that
light which is in the Creator, yet very small do all things seem that be created: for by means of
that supernatural light, the capacity of the inward soul is enlarged, and is in God so extended,
that it is far above the world: yea and the soul of him that seeth in this manner, is also above
itself; for being rapt up in the light of God, it is inwardly in itself enlarged above itself,
and when it is so exalted and looketh downward, then doth it comprehend how little all that is,
which before in former baseness it could not comprehend. The man of God, therefore, who saw the
fiery globe, and the Angels returning to heaven, out of all doubt could not see those things but
in the light of God: what marvel, then, is it, if he saw the world gathered together before him,
who, rapt up in the light of his soul, was at that time out of the world? But albeit we say that
the world was gathered together before his eyes, yet were not heaven and earth drawn into any
lesser room than they be of themselves, but the soul of the beholder was more enlarged, which,
rapt in God, might without difficulty see that which is under God, and therefore in that light
which appeared to his outward eyes, the inward light which was in his soul ravished the mind of
the beholder to supernal things, and shewed him how small all earthly things were.

PETER: I perceive now that it was to my more profit that I understood you not before: seeing,
by reason of my slow capacity, you have delivered so notable an exposition. But now, because you
have made me thrughly to understand these things, I beseech you to continue on your former
narration.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: HOW HOLY BENEDICT WROTE A RULE FOR HIS MONKS.

GREGORY. Desirous I am, Peter, to tell you many things of this venerable father, but some of
purpose I let pass, because I make haste to entreat also of the acts of other holy men: yet I
would not have you to be ignorant, but that the man of God amongst so many miracles, for which he
was so famous in the world, was also sufficiently learned in divinity: for he wrote a rule for
his monks, both excellent for discretion and also eloquent for the style. Of whose life and
conversation, if any be curious to know further, he may in the institution of that rule
understand all his manner of life and discipline: for the holy man could not otherwise teach,
than himself lived.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: HOW VENERABLE BENEDICT DID PROPHESY TO HIS MONKS THE TIME OF HIS OWN
DEATH.

The same year in which he departed this life, he told the day of his holy death to his monks,
some of which did live daily with him, and some dwelt far off, willing those that were present to
keep it secret, and telling them that were absent by what token they should know that he was
dead. Six days before he left this world, he gave order to have his sepulchre opened, and
forthwith falling into an ague, he began with burning heat to wax faint, and when as the sickness
daily increased, upon the sixth day he commanded his monks to carry him into the oratory, where
he did arm himself with receiving the body and blood of our Saviour Christ; and having his weak
body holden up betwixt the hands of his disciples, he stood with his own lifted up to heaven, and
as he was in that manner praying, he gave up the ghost. Upon which day two monks, one being in
his cell, and the other far distant, had concerning him one and the self-same vision: for they
saw all the way from the holy man’s cell, towards the east even up to heaven, hung and
adorned with tapestry, and shining with an infinite number of lamps, at the top whereof a man,
reverently attired, stood and demanded if they knew who passed that way, to whom they answered
saying, that they knew not. Then he spake thus unto them: “This is the way,”quoth he,
“by which the beloved servant of God, Benedict, is ascended up to heaven.”And by this
means, as his monks that were present knew of the death of the holy man, so likewise they which
were absent, by the token which he foretold them, had intelligence of the same thing. Buried he
was in the oratory of St. John Baptist which himself built, when he overthrew the altar of
Apollo; who also in that cave in which he first dwelled, even to this very time, worketh
miracles, if the faith of them that pray requireth the same.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: HOW A MAD WOMAN WAS CURED IN HIS CAVE.

For the thing which I mean now to rehearse fell out lately. A certain woman falling mad, lost
the use of reason so far, that she walked up and down, day and night, in mountains and valleys,
in woods and fields, and rested only in that place where extreme weariness enforced her to stay.
Upon a day it so fell out, that albeit she wandered at random, yet she missed not the right way:
for she came to the cave of the blessed man Benedict: and not knowing anything, in she went, and
reposed herself there that night, and rising up in the morning, she departed as sound in sense
and well in her wits, as though she had never been distracted in her whole life, and so continued
always after, even to her dying day.

PETER: What is the reason that in the patronage of martyrs we often times find, that they do
not afford so great benefit by their bodies, as they do by other of their relics: and do there
work greater miracles, where themselves be not present?

GREGORY: Where the holy martyrs lie in their bodies, there is no doubt, Peter, but that they
are able to work many miracles, yea and also do work infinite, to such as seek them with a pure
mind. But for as much as simple people might have some doubt whether they be present, and do in
those places hear their prayers where their bodies be not, necessary it is that they should in
those places shew greater miracles, where weak souls may most doubt of their presence.

But he whose mind is fixed in God, hath so much the greater merit of his faith in that he both
knoweth that they rest not there in body, and yet be there present to hear our prayers. And
therefore our Saviour himself, to increase the faith of his disciples, said: “If I do not
depart, the Comforter will not come unto you,”[John 16:7]: for, seeing certain it is that
the comforting Spirit doth always proceed from the Father and abide in the Son, why doth the Son
say that he will depart that the Comforter may come, who never is absent from the Son? But
because the disciples, beholding our Lord in flesh, did always desire to see him with their
corporal eyes, very well did he say unto them: “Unless I do go away, the Comforter will not
come:”as though he had plainly told them: If I do not withdraw my body, I cannot let you
understand what the love of the spirit is: and except you give over [cease] to love my carnal
presence, never will you learn to affect me with true spiritual love.

PETER: That you say pleaseth me very well.

GREGORY: Let us now for a while give over our discourse, to the end that if we mean to
prosecute the miracles of other Saints, we may through silence be the more able to perform
it.

The end of the Second Book

*Note: In the ancient edition of the Dialogues of St. Gregory, translated into Greek not long
after their writing by the Greek-speaking Pope Zacharias, the text reads: “the...Spirit
doth always proceed from the Father and abide in the Son.”Thus it was cited without dispute
by St. Photius in his Mystagogy in the 9th century against the Frankish Filioque innovators.
However, the more recent Latin printed editions have: “doth proceed from the Father and the
Son”, having suffered alteration and corruption over the last 1,000 years in the interests
of buttressing Roman Catholic propaganda by later editors, most likely the prolific
Benedictines.